Mencius Quotes
The Way lies at hand yet it is sought afar off; the thing lies in the easy yet it is sought in the difficult.
The foundation of the world lies in the nation. The foundation of the nation lies in the family. The foundation of the family lies in the individual.
Men must be decided on what they will not do, and then they are able to act with vigor in what they ought to do.
The way is near, but men seek it afar. It is in easy things, but men seek for it in difficult things.
When one by force subdues men, they do not submit to him in heart. They submit because their strength is not adequate to resist.
By exhaustively examining one's own mind,one may understand his nature.One who understands his own nature understands Heaven.
The root of the kingdom is in the state. The root of the state is in the family. The root of the family is in the person of its head.
The way of truth is like a great road. It is not difficult to know it. The evil is only that men will not seek it.
Never has there been one possessed of complete sincerity who did not move others. Never has there been one who had not sincerity who was able to move others.
The myriad things are complete in us. There is no greater joy than to reflect on ourselves and become sincere.
The path of duty lies in what is near, and men seek for it in what is remote; the work of duty lies in what is easy, and men seek for it in what is difficult.
Incessant falls teach men to reform, and distress rouses their strength. Life springs from calamity, and death from ease.
A man must not be without shame, for the shame of being without shame is shamelessness indeed.
To lay hold of the mean without taking into account the occasion is like grasping one thing only.
The great man does not think beforehand of his words that they may be sincere, nor of his actions that they may be resolute- he simply speaks and does what is right.
To feed men and not to love them is to treat them as if they were barnyard cattle. To love them and not respect them is to treat them as if they were household pets.
Virtue alone is not sufficient for the exercise of government; laws alone cannot carry themselves into practice.
Human nature is good, just as water seeks low ground. There is no man who is not good, just as there is no water that does not flow downward.
The regular path of virtue is to be pursued without any bend, and from no view to emolument.
Those who follow the part of themselves which is great are great men; those who follow the part which is little are little men.
Is it only the mouth and belly which are injured by hunger and thirst? Men's minds are also injured by them.
All people have the common desire to be elevated in honour, but all people have something still more elevated in themselves without knowing it.
The people turn in allegiance to Humanity, as surely as water flows downward or as a wild animal takes cover in the wilderness.
The five kinds of grains are considered good plants, but if the grains are not ripe, they are worse than cockles. It is the same with regard to kindness, which must grow into maturity.
If you know that a thing is unrighteous, then use all dispatch in putting an end to it--why wait till next year?
If someone stops where they should not, they’ll stop anywhere. If someone slights a person they should treat generously, they’ll slight anyone. And if someone races ahead, they retreat in a hurry.
Words that defy reality are ominous. And it’s ominous reality that confronts those who would obscure the wise and worthy.
Words that speak of things close at hand and carry far-reaching implications – those are the good words.